Swiss biomedical company regenHU has partnered with UK-based synthetic biomaterial producer PeptiGelDesign Technologies to release a series of EMC-Bioink (Extra Cellular Matrix bioink) synthetic bioinks for 3D bioprinting. The ready-to-print bioinks, described as synthetic hydrogels, were developed for applications in tissue engineering and 3D cell biology.
Bioinks are a crucial part of 3D bioprinting technology. Functioning as liquid-like materials that contain bio-active elements such as proteins or living cells, bioinks are designed to be additively manufactured, built up layer by layer into specific bioarchitectures (custom implants or tissue constructs, for example). As we’ve seen, bioink and bioprinting technology have many uses, perhaps most notably in the field of drug testing.
While a number of bioinks already exist, regenHU notes that none of the available materials are suitable for in-vivo applications (meaning for testing on a live organism). regenHU and PeptiGelDesign Technologies’ new range of synthetic hydrogels are said to help fill this void. Called EMC-Bioink™, the new bioinks are available in five different variations (off-the-shelf), or can be customized for specific applications.
The EMC-Bioinks are described as “non-Newtonian materials which display shear thinning properties while providing a three-dimensional peptide nanofiber scaffold that promotes cell expansion, cell growth and migration depending on needs and requirements.”
The new bioprinting materials will make it easier for researchers to additively manufacture complex structures that closely mimic the architecture and functions of real, organic tissue, say the companies. Offering control over mechanical strength and the cell-scaffold interaction, the EMC-Bioink range of materials can be used as a stand-alone matrix or, if necessary, can be integrated into a component system.
The bioinks are also widely applicable, as they can be used for various purposes: studying tissue or disease, drug discovery, toxicity, efficacy, as well as creating regenerative implants. EMC-Bioink products are currently available through regenHU’s online store, and are retailing for between €158 and €242 for a 3cc cartridge.
Based in Cheshire, UK, PeptiGelDesign Technologies is a developer of synthetic biomaterials and a specialist in regenerative medicine solutions. The company has successfully developed a range of customizable peptide-based biomaterials which are easily reproducible and animal product free, making them ideal for liquid handling processes. The company is also known for developing cell-friendly synthetic EMCs for bioprinting applications.
regenHU, for its part, has been working on advancing bioprinting and other biomedical technologies. Last year, the company partnered with UMC Utrecht to develop a way to make 3D bioprinting more accurate.
